Queen Elizabeth's Priceless Reaction to Kate Middleton and Prince William's Renovated Kitchen

Simon Perry
·2 min read
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Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton share many of the same attributes — they both value discretion, loyalty and duty — but their differences were on display during one of the Queen's visits to Anmer Hall.

Kate and Prince William's country home, which they moved into in 2015 after a major renovation, may be on the Queen's estate in Norfolk, but it's an unstuffy one, where Kate has been known to come to the door with the kids and one of her lasagnas baking in the oven.

The Queen, however, is distinctly unlikely to sit in any kitchen to eat!

"I remember when they had just finished renovating Anmer Hall, and they invited the Queen over for lunch," Sally Bedell Smith, author of Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch, tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story.

"They have one of those big kitchens with eating areas, and she said, 'I can't understand why everybody spends their time in the kitchen.'"

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (R) shows Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (L) and Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, around the 'Back to Nature Garden' garden, that she designed along with Andree Davies and Adam White, during their visit to the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 20, 2019.
Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (R) shows Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (L) and Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, around the 'Back to Nature Garden' garden, that she designed along with Andree Davies and Adam White, during their visit to the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 20, 2019.

GEOFF PUGH/POOL/AFP via Getty Queen Elizabeth, Prince William and Kate Middleton

For more on how Kate Middleton has the perfect role model in the Queen, pick up a copy of the latest issue of PEOPLE on newsstands on Friday.

Kate and William will have even more opportunities to invite the Queen over for lunch as the royal couple are planning a move from London to Windsor, where their children — Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4 — will start a new school.

Anmer Hall
Anmer Hall

Indigo/Getty Anmer Hall

The relocation brings them closer to the Queen, who largely resides in Windsor Castle and will be delighted by the move, say friends.

RELATED: How Kate Middleton Is Modeling Herself on Queen Elizabeth: 'Never Complain, Never Explain'

Royal Family
Royal Family

Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis joined Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles on the Buckingham Palace balcony on June 5.

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They "are representing the Queen impeccably," Bedell Smith tells PEOPLE. "They're showing a kind of dedication she would be proud of. And that probably gives her hope."

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